Senior Communicator for the Movement for Change, Solomon Owusu, has stated firmly that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has no moral ground to weigh in on the controversy surrounding a viral video of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi giving out $800 to chief priest turned Evangelist, Patricia Oduro Koranteng, popularly known as Nana Agradaa.
While Sammy Gyamfi has publicly apologised for the incident, Owusu believes the debate surrounding the gesture has been blown out of proportion.
“I am very surprised as to why people are defending Sammy Gyamfi. That is my candid opinion because I don’t understand it. The man himself has apologized”
Solomon Owusu, Senior Communicator for the Movement for Change
He questioned the logic of defending or condemning Gyamfi when the man at the centre of the storm has already expressed remorse, but cautioned against politicising the matter, especially by a party with its own unresolved ethical controversies.
Owusu explained that at first glance, the gesture did not appear problematic to him. He noted that given Gyamfi’s employment term as CEO of GoldBod, the act seemed financially plausible and not inherently corrupt.
He referenced a document detailing Gyamfi’s conditions of service, which reportedly included a basic annual salary of around GH¢1,500,000. According to Owusu, no one has challenged the authenticity of that document, making it a valid premise to base his analysis on.
Reasonable Doubts
Owusu leaned on the provisions of Ghana’s anti-money laundering law to defend the legality of the gesture.
“If you read the anti-money laundering law carefully, it says that if there is a known source of your money and that known source can, as it is, back you in whatever you are doling out, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it”
Solomon Owusu, Senior Communicator for the Movement for Change
However, he admitted his stance shifted once the apology came. He questioned whether the remorse was for violating any legal boundary or simply for appearing to breach a presidential directive against the display of wealth in public service.
Owusu emphasized that public trust is fragile and actions by public officials must be guided by the perception they generate. He said had it been a private citizen involved, the backlash might have been minimal.
With the government having allocated $279 million to GoldBod in the 2025 budget, Owusu raised concerns about the optics of its CEO handling large sums of foreign currency to the average Ghanaian. “What are the reasonable deductions you may be leading me to make?”
NPP’s Hypocrisy
While acknowledging the scrutiny public officials must endure, Owusu sharply criticised the NPP’s decision to hold a press conference condemning Sammy Gyamfi. He recalled incidents involving high-ranking NPP officials distributing cash during political activities that were never investigated or punished.
“Have they forgotten about Professor Nyarko? I called for his arrest over the by-election and how he gave out envelopes and bundles, about four or so. Didn’t they see it?”
Solomon Owusu, Senior Communicator for the Movement for Change
He pointed out the implausibility of the explanation that the cash was meant for meals, noting that the minister in question had passed through multiple towns without offering assistance to anyone except in a politically strategic location.
“He passed by many towns, Bantama, Adum, and so on, yet he couldn’t see anybody that was needy along the way except at Ejisu – And we agree with that story?”
Solomon Owusu, Senior Communicator for the Movement for Change
Owusu also took aim at former President Nana Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for allegedly receiving bundles of cash publicly, questioning how these actions were less serious than Gyamfi’s.
“Are presidents supposed to carry bundles of money in public? Which is more dangerous?” he asked.
“If there is going to be a political party complaining about this matter, it must be the last thing the New Patriotic Party will do – They are not on the right side of history when it comes to some of these matters”
Solomon Owusu, Senior Communicator for the Movement for Change
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